LAS VEGAS—AVN Managing Editor Peter Warren moderated the annual Best New Starlets panel at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo on Thursday, with nominees Elly Clutch, Sage Hunter, Ivy Ireland, Asteria Jade, Cheerleader Kait, Linda Lan, Stella Luxx, Megan Mistakes, Gypsy Rose, Tessa Thomas, Cubbi Thompson, Violet Voss, and Sky Wonderland in attendance, along with 2025 Best New Starlet winner Gal Ritchie.
After the introductions ("Fun tidbit: I can put my legs behind my head," Elly Clutch offered, and Cheerleader Kait confirmed that she was, indeed, a cheerleader), Warren asked Ritchie how she felt about "passing on the crown," eliciting a theatrical cry of "I'm not ready!" When Warren asked if she had words of advice for the nominees, Ritchie said she was superstitious, "so I didn't talk about it for a very long time. If you do win, fantastic, amazing. If you don’t, being nominated is a massive thing. Don’t drink too much, don’t trip—I almost fell on my face last year, in hysterics, trying to talk, trying not to cry and get my words out. Even if you don’t think you’re going to win, have a little something prepared. Even if you don’t win, don’t feel like shit. You are so fucking honored to be on this fucking stage. Being a porn girlie is fucking difficult. We face a lot of stigma, challenges in every aspect. You should all be really proud of yourselves."
Warren asked if anyone had prepared a speech, and Gypsy Rose responded, "I am where I'm meant to be, I love all eyes on me. I've always loved it. Performing is my calling. I did cheer, dance, stripped for a little bit, all the things that involve performing. This is where I'm meant to be. I'll be top girl one day. It's gonna happen!"
Ivy Ireland said, "I've kinda ChatGPT'd something... I'll personalize it."
When Warren asked how they found out they had been nominated, Linda Lan said she and Gypsy Rose were texted by their agent, and Rose said, "That's crazy! My best friend? I gotta compete with her? But I'm honored to be competing with my bestie."
One nominee said she was on a content trip in Mexico and got the news from a fan. "I was like, 'Oh, my gosh'... so, naturally, we took shots." Another said "I literally fell to the ground, crying, and my dog has never been more concerned for me." One said "I was asleep. When I woke up, I had, like, 50 phone calls."
Warren asked Megan Mistakes where she got her name—"If there was an award for best porn name, she would have it in her hand"—and she explained that she got it at a cam studio from an interviewer who had it on a list of names, saying "I keep pitching it to people but no one will take it."
"I wish I came up with it myself."
Ritchie responded. "You should just lie. Say 'I came up with it.'"
Sky Wonderland explained that Sky is her real name "and I love Alice in Wonderland."
Asteria Jade explained that in Greek mythology, Asteria is the titan of starfalls and divination, "so if I'm gonna be a star, it may fall, but it's a core association."
Ritchie was asked what the transition was like after she won. "I went straight back to work, so it didn’t really kick in for a few months. I felt an increase in the quality of work I was getting. It was nice to have that recognition, social media went crazy, but you still have to keep working. You still have to go to work. Get fucked. It can help you... but you have to keep that pussy going."
When Tessa Thomas asked Ritchie for "three words of encouragement for us," Ritchie thought for a moment and responded "Three words of encouragement?... Don't. Fucking. Cry. There you go."
Asked about their other nominations, Elly Clutch mentioned her Best Supporting Actress nod for Deadly Vows — "I didn’t know I liked to act until I got in porn, I'm glad that I know now"—and four fan nominations. Sky Wonderland has been nominated for a VR scene she had forgotten about ("Oh yeah, I filmed that."), and Tessa Thomas mentioned her fan award nomination for Most Amazing Ass ("That's really cool, too. I love my ass."), Stella Luxx mentioned her nomination for a three-way scene "with Jennifer White and Parker Ambrose—I'm so honored and privileged that I got to work with them. Amazing. Best day of my life." Violet Voss mentioned her fan nomination for Best Boobs—"Thank my doctor"—and Cubbi Thompson said she had also gotten a fan nomination for Best Boobs "and my family was more excited for that because they bought my boob job." Gypsy Rose said "This is all I got, y'all. One and only. But I'll take it. I'm flattered to be up here." Linda Lan said she was nominated for an orgy scene, and Gypsy Rose noted "I was supposed to be there, but I had a really bad yeast infection."
When an audience member asked what "tricks of the trade they had picked up to stay healthy and keep your sanity," Elly Clutch replied, "It can be really challenging and tough, it's not only this immense pressure, but it's a very vulnerable job. The most vulnerable thing that most people have in their lives, the most intimate thing you can do with somebody else, we have plastered all over the Internet. But it can be incredibly freeing. Make you empowered, and excited, and happy. You find value in other things instead. The things that keep me sane are keeping my relationships incredibly solid, make sure I stay mentally healthy, focus on lifting other people up, not get too into my head. No one looks at you the way you look at yourself, and you're always going to be your own worst critic. Have a frickin' good time. We do this because it's fun. Be sure to keep it fun."
Asteria Jade tersely commented, "I relieve stress by stomping on men's balls. Just the classic, traditional way." Ivy Ireland said, "I really try not to take it too serious. At the end of the day we are just fucking on camera. We’re here to have a good time, to make really cool art and be expressive. I try not to put too much pressure on myself."
Asked for some final words of advice—"Outside of 'don’t fucking cry'"—Gal Ritchie said, "Just be proud of yourself. You worked so fucking hard to even be up here on stage and be nominated for a prestigious award. It's the only award you can only be nominated once for, so that's a massive deal. And enjoy it. Enjoy the awards, enjoy your time at AVN this week, and be happy whatever the outcome. Be proud of yourself."
The full list of nominees for Best New Starlet includes: Beca Barbie, Alexa Chains, Elly Clutch, Sage Hunter, Ivy Ireland, Asteria Jade, Cheerleader Kait, Linda Lan, Stella Luxx, Megan Mistakes, Gypsy Rose, Tessa Thomas, Cubbi Thompson, Violet Voss & Sky Wonderland.
Photos by Chad Salvador
